Method and wireless transceiver for requesting and processing information

ABSTRACT

A method and a wireless transceiver are used for requesting and processing information. A first information query is transmitted by the wireless transceiver and information is returned by a service provider via a wireless network to the requesting wireless transceiver. The information query is provided with a predefined first validity time value and the returned information, in particular in the form of short messages, is provided with a predefined second validity time value by the service provider.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention related to a method and wireless transceiver forrequesting and processing information.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

PCT Published Patent Application WO 98/26395 describes a method fortraffic information in which data is transmitted upon request and/orautomatically between a central unit and a mobile subscriber unit, andin which the data contains traffic information which is output uponrequest and/or automatically by the mobile subscriber unit to thesubscriber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The method according to the present invention provides that informationqueries transmitted by a wireless transceiver to a service provider andthe information returned by the service provider are provided withpredefined validity time values. Thus, the maximum time period forobtaining information can be calculated even when no data selectionconnection or the like is possible or convenient.

In embodiments of the present invention, the information queries aretransmitted as short messages over a wireless network, for example, amobile wireless network, and the information queries are provided with afirst validity time value. When the validity time value is exceeded butthe information query has not yet been transmitted to the serviceprovider, the information query is automatically deleted in the wirelessnetwork and thus it cannot initiate any information to be returned bythe service provider. This contributes to simplified error processing ofthe method according to the present invention and in a simplified designof the wireless transceiver according to the present invention.Furthermore, the returned information is also received in the form ofshort messages, SMS messages in accordance with the GSM standard inparticular, the returned information being provided with a secondvalidity time value by the service provider which also contributes tosimplified error processing, in particular in the case of communicationdisturbances.

In further embodiments of the present invention, the wirelesstransceiver includes means for determining its position, in particularin a road network. Thus, information queries can be requested dependingon the position of the wireless transceiver.

In further embodiments of the present invention, the information queriesare generated on the basis of the position of the wireless transceiver.Thus, obtaining information is simplified, for example, reducing theamount of information to be transmitted.

In further embodiments of the present invention, a message is generatedin the wireless transceiver and/or the use of the information returnedby the central station to the wireless transceiver is suppressed if afirst predefined time period has been exceeded after the firstinformation query has been transmitted. This makes it possible torespond to the fact that information was received with a delay, forexample, by calling a user's attention to this fact and/or by ignoringthe returned information, for example, if this information has becomeobsolete and therefore no longer relevant due to a long time delay inthe transmission of information for processing, for example, for thenavigation of a motor vehicle.

In further embodiments of the present invention, after a firstinformation query, a second subsequent information query isautomatically transmitted after a second predefined time period has beenexceeded, the second predefined time period being started at the time ofthe first information query, the first predefined time period whichcauses the returned information to be suppressed after it has beenexceeded being restarted at the time of the second information query,and the second predefined time period being greater than the firstpredefined time period. This makes it possible to send out informationqueries repeatedly and to keep the information processing, for example,for calculating the most favorable route of a vehicle in the presence oftraffic problems on certain road segments, permanently up-to-datethrough the returned information. Furthermore, by using automaticinformation queries, it is also possible to keep the processedinformation constantly up-to-date without user intervention, resultingin a higher degree of operating reliability of the method according tothe present invention and the wireless transceiver according to thepresent invention for requesting and processing information, inparticular when the user is performing some activity, for example,driving a vehicle.

In further embodiments of the present invention, a second informationquery following the first information query in time is transmitted uponuser request, the first predefined time period being restarted at thetime the second information query is issued. Thus, an information querycan be sent upon user request, which may be desirable in the event ofunexpected changes in the situation, for example, a change indestination. In addition, the number of information queries in the caseof an information query upon user request can be kept lower andinformation queries can be transmitted in a controlled manner, forexample, before a decision to be made, in particular regarding roadconditions, resulting in reduced telecommunications traffic and reducedcosts when the information queries are associated with costs.

In further embodiments of the present invention, the returnedinformation contains traffic situation reports, in particular accordingto the TMC standard, and the traffic situation reports may relate to oneor more specific areas. Thus, only those traffic situation reports aretaken into consideration in the wireless transceiver which, for example,are or may become relevant for the navigation to be performed, sincethey concern areas which correspond to areas queried in the informationquery or are adjacent thereto, for example.

In further embodiments of the present invention, the life of the trafficsituation reports exceeds a predefined minimum life. The trafficsituation reports contained in the returned information are thereforereceived in all cases.

In further embodiments of the present invention, the predefined minimumlife of the traffic situation reports is greater than the sum of thepredefined first time period and the predefined second time period.Traffic situation reports contained in returned information can thus notbe ignored because of their excessively short life alone duringinformation processing. Thus, no short-term loss of traffic situationreports occurs in the wireless transceiver in the case of a time spreadin obtaining the messages.

In further embodiments of the present invention, a number of appropriateand relevant traffic situation reports is selected from the amount oftraffic situation reports received, and is made available to aprocessing unit, in particular a navigation unit. This can reduce theprocessing costs by concentrating on the relevant traffic situationreports, making processing speedier, allowing the hardware and thesoftware to be kept simpler, thus reducing costs.

In further embodiments of the present invention, a wireless transceiverincludes a memory in which received traffic situation reports can bestored. Thus, the traffic situation reports can be read individuallyfrom returned information. The traffic situation reports can be usedwithout all the returned information being fully available in the caseof a plurality of returned information items received by the wirelesstransceiver. The method according to the present invention and thewireless transceiver according to the present invention are compatiblewith receiving traffic situation reports via a unidirectionalcommunication channel, for example, via radio; broadcast SMS, or thelike. Furthermore, traffic situation reports can thus be used in apractical manner when the respective returned information is not fullyavailable

In further embodiments of the present invention, the wirelesstransceiver includes means for selecting navigation messages from thetraffic situation reports and for making them available to a navigationunit. This reduces the resources needed in the navigation unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a wireless transceiver embodimentaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a transmit/receive diagram according to an embodiment ofthe method according to the present invention and the mode of operationof the wireless transceiver according to the present invention betweenthe wireless transceiver, a wireless network, and a service provider;and

FIG. 3 shows a transmit/receive diagram according to a an embodiment ofthe method according to the present invention and the mode of operationof the wireless transceiver according to the present invention betweenthe wireless transceiver, a wireless network, and a service provider.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a wireless transceiver 100. Wirelesstransceiver 100 includes a transceiver unit 110, which is connected toan analyzer circuit 120. Analyzer circuit 120 is connected to adistributor device 140. Furthermore, a memory 142, a navigation unit160, playback devices 184, and input devices 182 are connected todistributor device 140. Navigation unit 160 is also connected to anavigation data memory 162. Transceiver unit 110 can be designed, inparticular, so that it includes a receptacle for a portabletelecommunications terminal, for example, a cell phone, so thattransceiver unit 110 cannot be operated until the portabletelecommunications terminal is connected to transceiver unit 110, forexample, plugged in or the like. The different units and devices ofwireless transceiver 100 can be distributed among different housings orintegrated in a single housing. Individual units and devices of wirelesstransceiver 100 can be combined with an additional device in a housing.Thus, for example, input devices 182 and playback devices 184 can beintegrated into a wireless receiver. In this case, the wireless receiveris connected to wireless transceiver 100 via a wire-bound or wirelessconnection, for example, a CAN bus or the like. The wireless receiver isprovided with a decoder for traffic situation reports, in particular,according to the RDS-TMC system, so that the traffic situation reportscan be received by the wireless transceiver via the link between thewireless transceiver and the radio receiver.

FIG. 2 shows the communication process over time according to anembodiment of the method according to the present invention and the modeof operation of wireless transceiver 100 according to the presentinvention between the wireless transceiver 100, a wireless network 50,and a service provider 10 with the aid of a transmit/receive diagram. Afirst information query 1000 is transmitted by wireless transceiver 100to wireless network 50 to be forwarded to service provider 10. Firstinformation query 1000 is provided by wireless transceiver 100 with afirst validity time value 1402. First validity time value 1402 causesfirst information query 1000 no longer to be able to be transmitted toservice provider 10 after the lapse of first validity time value 1402.If first information query 1000 was not transmitted to service provider10 over wireless network so during the time period of first validitytime value 1402, first information query 1000 is lost.

When first information query 1000 has been successfully transmitted toservice provider 10, service provider 10 processes the contents of firstinformation query 1000 and, after a certain processing time, returns oneor more items of information 1100 to wireless transceiver 100 overwireless network 50. Service provider 10 provides returned information1100 with a second validity time value 1403, which specifies the timeperiod during which returned information 1100 is kept available innetwork 50 for transmission to wireless transceiver 100. If returnedinformation 1100 is held available in wireless network 50 during a timeperiod specified by second validity time value 1403 without returnedinformation 1100 being transmitted to wireless transceiver 100, returnedinformation 1100 is lost. If returned information 1100 is transmitted towireless transceiver 100 within a time period specified by secondvalidity time value 1403, wireless transceiver 100 can process returnedinformation 1100. This takes place if first predefined time period 1401has not been exceeded since the time when first information query 1000was registered. If returned information 1100 was not received untilafter the lapse of first predefined time period 1401 after firstinformation query 1000 was issued by wireless transceiver 100, a messageis generated and/or processing of information 1100 which was returnedtoo late is suppressed. The message can be forwarded in wirelesstransceiver 100 via distributor device 140 to playback devices 184 andoutput to a user there. The present invention further allows forwardingthe message to navigation unit 160 or the like.

According to a method according to the present invention and wirelesstransceiver 100 according to the present invention, a second informationquery 1001 following first information query 1000 in time is transmittedby wireless transceiver 100 to service provider 10 over wireless network50. Second information query 1001 can be issued due to a plurality ofevents, for example, automatically or also upon user request.

Second information query 1001 is transmitted automatically when a secondpredefined time period 1404 is exceeded. Second predefined time period1404 is started at the time of first information query 1000. Firstpredefined time period 1401 is restarted at the time of secondinformation query 1001. Furthermore second predefined time period 1404is greater than first predefined time period 1401. When informationqueries 1000, 1001 are automatically repeated, any desired number ofadditional information queries, which may have different contents, canbe transmitted. Between two successive information queries 1000, 1001,the earlier information query is referred to as first information query1000 and the subsequent information query is referred to as secondinformation query 1001. First and second predefined time periods 1401,1404-are both started at the time of first information query 1000. Sincefirst predefined time period 1401 is smaller than second predefined timeperiod 1404, first predefined time period 1401 ends while secondpredefined time period 1404 continues. After the lapse of secondpredefined time period 1404, second information query 1001 is issued andboth the first and second predefined time periods 1401, 1404 arerestarted.

FIG. 3 shows the communication process over time according to anotherembodiment of the method according to the present invention, and themode of operation of wireless transceiver 100 according to the presentinvention between a wireless transceiver 100, a wireless network 50, anda service provider 10 with the aid of a transmit/receive diagram. Thesame reference symbols from FIG. 2 refer to similar segments of themethod. Information queries 1000, 1001 can also be initiated by a userrequest 1821. Between two successive information queries 1000, 1001, theearlier information query is again referred to as first informationquery 1000 and the subsequent information query is referred to as secondinformation query 1001. Since user request 1821, rather than secondpredefined time period 1404 being exceeded, is used as a criterion forinitiating second information query 1001, the second predefined timeperiod does not have to be started at the time of first informationquery 1000 in the present embodiment. At the time of first informationquery 1000, only first predefined time period is 1401 is started and itis restarted when second information query 1001 is issued.

Wireless transceiver 100 according to the present invention is suitablefor performing the method according to the present invention.Transceiver unit 110 transmits first information query 1000 overwireless network 50 to service provider. 10. In a first timer assignedto analyzer circuit 120, a first clock is started when first informationquery 1000 is issued by transceiver unit 110. Returned information 1100is analyzed by the analyzer circuit. The contents of returnedinformation 1100 can be stored in memory 142 using distributor device140. Navigation unit 160 calls up data stored in memory 142 viadistributor device 140 to update the data stored in navigation datamemory 162. If transceiver unit 110 receives returned information 1100and, after comparison with the clock of the first timer, it isdetermined that first predefined time period 1401 has been exceeded, themessage is generated and/or forwarded by distributor device 140 for useby other units or devices of wireless transceiver 100.

Results of the information processing in navigation unit 160 can beforwarded to playback devices 184 via distributor device 140 and madeavailable there to a user of any type, visually or acoustically inparticular.

The user inputs information via input devices 182, for example, akeyboard, for example, to have the wireless transceiver input navigationdestinations and the like. Furthermore, the information about userrequest 1821 can be forwarded to a second information query 1001 viadistributor device 140 to transceiver unit 110 using inputs devices 182.Transceiver unit 110 then transmits second information query 1001.

In the case where wireless transceiver 100 is set to automaticallyrepeat information queries 1000, 1001, it can be determined by comparinga clock of a second timer assigned to analyzer circuit 120 that secondpredefined time period 1404 has been exceeded, the clock of the secondtimer having been restarted at the time of the transmission of firstinformation query 1000. In this case, second information query 1001 istransmitted by transceiver unit 110.

Any number of returned information items 1100 can be received by thewireless transceiver in response to an information query 1000, 1001.This simplifies transmission and reception since it is not necessary tocheck for completeness. Processing of additional returned information1100 takes place in the manner similar to the processing of returnedinformation 1100 after the transmission of first information query 1000.Information transmitted by service provider 10 which does not originatefrom an information query 1000, 1001 of wireless transceiver 100 canalso be processed by the wireless transceiver. In particular, importantinformation such as traffic situation reports regarding a vehicle beingdriven in the wrong direction on a highway may be transmitted in such amode of operation.

The method to according to the present invention and wirelesstransceiver 100 according to the present invention can be used forrequesting and processing any type of information. In particular,. themethod according to the present invention and wireless transceiver 100according to the present invention are well suited for navigationinformation which facilitates navigation for a mobile user. Inparticular, the method according to the present invention and wirelesstransceiver 100 according to the present invention are well suited foruse in a vehicle on land, water, or in the air. A further embodiment ofthe method according to the present invention and of wirelesstransceiver 100 according to the present invention for use in a landvehicle mainly on roads is possible. For navigation in a road network itis recommended that the location information and the possible connectionoptions provided by the road network be stored in the road vehicle,which is made possible according to the present invention by storingfirst location information, in particular static information about theroad network, in navigation data memory 162.

Navigation unit 160 according to the present invention includes meansfor determining the position of the vehicle at any time, for example, inregular time intervals. This is accomplished according to the presentinvention through analyses of a GPS system (Global Positioning System).Furthermore, additional data sources can be used for positiondetermination, in particular velocity data, angle or orientation data,or the like. Velocity data can be provided by an onboard velocitysensor. Angle or orientation data can be provided, for example, by anangular acceleration sensor or the like. Navigation is made possible, inparticular for users familiar with the area, through the possibility oflocation determination and the presence of stored first locationinformation of the road network.

By supplementing the first location information of the road network withup-to-date information, for example, concerning the traffic conditionson certain stretches of road, improved navigation becomes possible,which allows time-optimized navigation in particular. For this purpose,information from service provider 10 is transmitted over wirelessnetwork 50 to wireless transceiver 100 located in the vehicle. Thewireless network is designed, for example, as a bidirectional wirelessnetwork, in particular of the type of a mobile telephone networkaccording to the GSM standard. Service provider 10 receives informationqueries 1000, 1001 of wireless transceiver 100 and transmits information1100, in particular for payment.

In the exemplary embodiments, communication takes place over wirelessnetwork 50 between wireless transceiver 100 and service provider 10, inparticular via short messages, for example SMS short messages accordingto the GSM standard or the like. Service provider 10 selects returnedinformation 1100 from the information available, for example, concerningdisturbances in the traffic flow in the road network or the like, as afunction of information queries 1000, 1001. In the method according tothe present invention, information queries 1000, 1001 contain secondlocation information, for example, regarding the position of thevehicle, the areas on the intended route, or the like. Second locationinformation may also be generated by wireless transceiver 100 on thebasis of first location information. For example, when two differentroutes are considered in the navigation unit for optimizing navigation,the second location information of the respective information query1000, 1001 can be configured so that returned information 1100 containsall traffic situation reports 1200 concerning the relevant roadsegments. Thus, the second information can also be generated on thebasis of the position of wireless transceiver 100 and, at the same time,on the basis of the first information.

Using the second location information, service provider can put togetherthe information requested and make it available to wireless transceiver100 as returned information 1100. In particular, information queries1000, 1001 concern areas in the extended vicinity of the stretches ofthe intended route.

Returned information 1100 may include one or more traffic situationreports 1200. Traffic situation reports 1200 may be transmitted in anencoded or unencoded form.

According to the present invention, traffic situation reports 1200 areencoded according to the TMC (Traffic Message Channel) code, which isdefined in European preliminary standard ENV-278-4-1-0012, June 1996.

In the present embodiment, the service provider evaluates informationqueries 1000, 1001 using the second location information and comparesthe latter with the available traffic situation reports, in particularTMC messages or the like. If a TMC message corresponds to the secondlocation information of information query 1000, 1001, it is forwarded inthe form of an SMS short message to wireless transceiver 100. Aplurality of Tmc messages can be transmitted in an SMS short message.TMC messages concern third location information (Location according tothe TMC code) which is determined by fourth location information(PrimaryLocation, see TMC standard) and the extent of the trafficdisturbance (Extent, see Tmc standard). A TMC message corresponds to thesecond location information when the third location informationindicates point locations (Point Location, see TMC standard) and atleast one of the third location information items affected by the TMCmessage is located in the area defined by the second locationinformation of the information query. All the third location informationitems which are defined by the fourth location information and theextent of the traffic disturbance are affected by a message; the extentof disturbance may assume values between 0 and 31; thus, point locationsmay also be affected by a message 32.

The service provider may optimize its service quality by placingparticularly important traffic situation reports 1200 at the beginningof returned information 1100. Less important traffic situation reports1200 can be placed at the end of returned information 1100 ortransmitted in additional returned information 1100 to wirelesstransceiver 100. Furthermore, the service provider-may reduce thecomplexity of its queries by keeping a limited amount of predefinedqueries available and calling them up on the basis of the queried secondlocation information. Such an option exists as long as all the trafficsituation reports 1200, rather than a predefined first number of trafficsituation reports 1200, affected by the queried second locationinformation are selected. In a further embodiment, the wirelesstransceiver according to the present invention may store only apredefined first number of, for example, one hundred, traffic situationreports. Thus an overflow occurs in the memory for traffic situationreports 1200 in wireless transceiver 100 if the service provider returnsa larger number of traffic situation reports than the predefined firstnumber. Wireless transceiver 100 does not recognize that trafficsituation reports 1200 are also transmitted from areas outside theregions contiguous to second location information. All traffic situationreports 1200 contained in returned information 1100 are treated in thesame way in wireless transceiver 100.

The service provider has the option of transmitting traffic situationreports 1200 once queried and transmitted, to wireless transceiver 100without a new information query 1000, 1001. Thus, changes in thecontents of traffic situation reports 1200 can also be communicatedwithout a new information query 1000, 1001. It is, however, not ensuredthat traffic situation report is 1200 is also received and evaluated bywireless transceiver 100.. The service provider does not transmit anytraffic situation reports 1200 whose life is less than a predefinedminimum life 1220. Life 1240 of a traffic situation report 1200 can berepresented, for example, by the ALERT-C-Persistence which is defined inthe TMC code. In the method according to the present invention, minimumlife 1220 is set at 30 minutes.

In order to counteract the danger of obsolete traffic situation reportsstored in wireless transceiver 100, the service provider may terminatetraffic situation reports 1200 whose life 1240 has been exceeded not byautomatic deletion after the lapse of life 1240, but through an explicitdelete message. Delete messages are also traffic situation reports 1200according to the TMC standard and also have a life 1240 at least equalto minimum life 1220. Delete messages themselves can be removed afterthe lapse of life 1240 without any comments.

The service provider encodes returned information 1100 so that they havevalidity in wireless network 50 only for a period of time correspondingto a first validity time value 1402. According to the present invention,returned information 1100 is transmitted as an SMS short messageaccording to the GSM standard, for example, to wireless transceiver 100.According to the GSM standard, an SMS short message can be provided witha validity time value (TP Validity-Period, see GSM standard documentRE/SMG-040340PR4, October 1996). The validity time value of an SMSmessage may vary for a validity time value of up to 12 hours inmultiples of five minutes in a certain encoding of the validity timevalue. For example, with the method according to the present inventionand with wireless transceiver 100 according to the present invention,first validity time value 1402 is set at five minutes.

A buffer memory assigned to transceiver unit 110 can be provided inorder to store returned information 1100 until analyzer circuit 120 iscapable of evaluating returned information 1100 and traffic situationreports 1200 contained therein. A first processing of returnedinformation 1100 takes place in analyzer circuit 120, where trafficsituation reports 1200 can be decoded. The traffic situation reports1200 can either be stored in memory 142 or, at least in part, output tothe user with the aid of playback device 184 via distributor device 140.

Distributor device 140 recognizes in wireless transceiver 100 accordingto the present invention which traffic situation reports 1200 arerelevant for navigation using signals of navigation unit .160 and sendsthese messages to navigation data memory 162 via navigation unit 160 asnavigation messages 1300. On the basis of the information present innavigation data memory 162, both the first location information, inparticular information concerning the road network, as well as the datafrom navigation messages 1300, the optimum route, which can be optimizedin particular in terms of time, can be calculated in navigation unit160.

In the present embodiment, first predefined time period 1401 is set at13 minutes, for example. Second predefined time period 1404 which, whenexceeded, causes second information query 1001 to be transmitted bywireless transceiver 100 is set in the present embodiment at 15 minutes,for example. Thus, the condition that first predefined time period 1401is less than second predefined time period 1402 is met. First and secondvalidity time values 1402, 1403 are set at five minutes, for example.

Minimum life 1220 is set in the present embodiment at 30 minutes. Thus,the condition that the minimum life is greater than the sum of firstpredefined time period 1401 and second predefined time period 1404 ismet.

Returned information 1100 may reach wireless transceiver 100 eitherafter first predefined time period 1401 after first information query1000 has been transmitted or after second predefined time period 1404,so that returned information 1100 which was generated by serviceprovider 10 on the basis of first information query 1000 is onlyreceived after second information query 1001 has been transmitted bywireless transceiver 100. As a result, first predefined time period 1401was restarted by second information query 1001 and returned information1100 belonging to first information query 1000 is assumed to be valid.This error cannot be recognized. It has a beneficial effect if trafficsituation reports 1200 contained in returned information 1100 are notobsolete. Since returned information 1100 is stored in the wirelessnetwork according to second validity time value 1403 at the most, thelikelihood that these traffic situation reports are current is high. Innormal operation, the likelihood that traffic situation reports areavailable earlier in such a case is also high. The occurrence of errorsmay have an effect on the operation of wireless transceiver 100according to the present invention.

In a further embodiment of the method according to the present inventionand wireless transceiver 100 according to the present invention,information 1100 received by transceiver unit 110 of wirelesstransceiver 100 is not associated with information queries 1000, 1001,and traffic situation reports 1200 that are transmitted withoutinformation query 1000, 1001, for example via a cell broadcast shortmessage service (CBS) of service provider 10, can also be processed. Inthis case information 1100 returned by service provider 10 is receivedwithin first predefined time period 1401 after first information query1000 has been transmitted.

1. A method for requesting and processing information, comprising:transmitting by a wireless transceiver a first information query over awireless network, the first information query being transmitted as ashort message, the first information query being provided with a firstpredefined validity time value; transmitting information to the wirelesstransceiver in response to the first information query, the informationbeing received by the wireless transceiver over the wireless network ina form of short messages, the information being provided with a secondpredefined validity time value by the service provider; registering inthe wireless transceiver a time of the first information query; andgenerating a message when a first predefined time period after thetransmitting of the first information query is exceeded.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein the wireless network is a mobile wireless network.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first information query isgenerated based on a position of the wireless transceiver.
 4. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: suppressing use of the transmittedinformation when the first predefined time period after the transmittingof the first information query is exceeded.
 5. The method of claim 1,further comprising: automatically transmitting a second informationquery after transmitting the first information query and after a secondpredefined time period is exceeded, the second predefined time periodstarting at a time of the transmitting of the first information query,the first predefined time period being restarted at a time of thetransmitting of the second information query, the second predefined timeperiod being greater than the first predefined time period.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, wherein the information includes traffic information.7. The method of claim 5, wherein the information includes trafficinformation of a specific area.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein theinformation contains at least one traffic situation report, a life ofthe at least one traffic situation report exceeding a predefined minimumlife.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one trafficsituation report is according to a TMC standard.
 10. The method of claim8, wherein the predefined minimum life is greater than a sum of thefirst predefined time period and the second predefined time period. 11.The method of claim 8, further comprising: selecting at least onenavigation message from the at least one traffic situation report in adistributor device, the selected at least one navigation message beingmade available to a navigation unit.
 12. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: transmitting upon user request a second information queryafter transmitting the first information query; and restarting the firstpredefined time period at a time of the transmitting of the secondinformation query.
 13. A wireless transceiver operating over a wirelessnetwork, comprising: a transmitter to transmit a first information queryas a short message over the wireless network, the first informationquery being provided with a first predefined validity time value; areceiver to receive information responsive to the first informationquery, the information being received as a short message over thewireless network; an arrangement to register a time of the firstinformation query; an arrangement to generate a message after a firstpredefined time period after the first information query is transmittedis exceeded; an arrangement to automatically transmit a secondinformation query after a second predefined time period has beenexceeded; an arrangement to start the second predefined time period at atime when the first information query is transmitted; and an arrangementto restart the first predefined time period at a time when the secondinformation query is transmitted; wherein the second predefined timeperiod is greater than the first predefined time period.
 14. Thewireless transceiver of claim 13, wherein the information includes atleast one traffic situation report.
 15. The wireless transceiver ofclaim 14, further comprising: a memory to store the at least one trafficsituation report.
 16. The wireless transceiver of claim 14, furthercomprising: an arrangement configured to select a navigation messagefrom the traffic situation report and for making the navigation messageavailable to a navigation unit.
 17. The wireless transceiver of claim13, further comprising: an arrangement to transmit a second informationquery upon user request; and an arrangement restart the first predefinedtime period at a time when the second information query is transmitted.18. The wireless transceiver of claim 13, further comprising: anarrangement configured to determine a position of the wirelesstransceiver.
 19. The wireless transceiver of claim 13, furthercomprising: an arrangement configured to determine a position of thewireless transceiver in a road network.
 20. The wireless transceiver ofclaim 13, further comprising: an arrangement configured to generate andtransmit the first information query based on a position of the wirelesstransceiver.
 21. A method for requesting and processing information,comprising: transmitting by a wireless transceiver a first informationquery over a wireless network, the first information query beingtransmitted as a short message, the first information query beingprovided with a first predefined validity time value; transmittinginformation to the wireless transceiver in response to the firstinformation query, the information being received by the wirelesstransceiver over the wireless network in a form of short messages, theinformation being provided with a second predefined validity time valueby the service provider; registering in the wireless transceiver a timeof the first information query; and at least one of generating a messageand suppressing the use of the received information when a firstpredetermined time period after the transmission of the firstinformation query is exceeded.
 22. The method of claim 20, wherein thewireless network includes a mobile wireless network.
 23. The method ofclaim 21, wherein the first information query is generated based on aposition of the wireless transceiver.
 24. The method of claim 21,further comprising: suppressing use of the transmitted information whenthe first predefined time period after the transmitting of the firstinformation query is exceeded.
 25. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising: automatically transmitting a second information query aftertransmitting the first information query and after a second predefinedtime period is exceeded, the second predefined time period starting at atime of the transmitting of the first information query, the firstpredefined time period being restarted at a time of the transmitting ofthe second information query, the second predefined time period beinggreater than the first predefined time period.
 26. The method of claim25, wherein the information includes traffic information.
 27. The methodof claim 25, wherein the information includes traffic information of aspecific area.
 28. The method of claim 25, wherein the informationcontains at least one traffic situation report, a life of the at leastone traffic situation report exceeding a predefined minimum life. 29.The method of claim 28, wherein the at least one traffic situationreport is according to a TMC standard.
 30. The method of claim 28,wherein the predefined minimum life is greater than a sum of the firstpredefined time period and the second predefined time period.
 31. Themethod of claim 28, further comprising: selecting at least onenavigation message from the at least one traffic situation report in adistributor device, the selected at least one navigation message beingmade available to a navigation unit.
 32. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising: transmitting upon user request a second information queryafter transmitting the first information query; and restarting the firstpredefined time period at a time of the transmitting of the secondinformation query.
 33. A wireless transceiver operating over a wirelessnetwork, comprising: a transmitter to transmit a first information queryas a short message over the wireless network, the first informationquery being provided with a first predefined validity time value; areceiver to receive information responsive to the first informationquery, the information being received as a short message over thewireless networks an arrangement to register a time of the firstinformation query; an arrangement to at least one of generate a messageand suppress the use of the received information when a firstpredetermined time period after the transmission of the firstinformation query is exceeded; an arrangement to automatically transmita second information query after a second predefined time period hasbeen exceeded; an arrangement to start the second predefined time periodat a time when the first information query is transmitted; and anarrangement to restart the first predefined time period at a time whenthe second information query is transmitted; wherein the secondpredefined time period is greater than the first predefined time period.34. The wireless transceiver of claim 33, wherein the informationincludes at least one traffic situation report.
 35. The wirelesstransceiver of claim 34, further comprising: a memory to store the atleast one traffic situation report.
 36. The wireless transceiver ofclaim 34, further comprising: an arrangement to select a navigationmessage from the traffic situation report and to make the navigationmessage available to a navigation unit.
 37. The wireless transceiver ofclaim 33, further comprising: an arrangement to transmit a secondinformation query upon user request; and an arrangement to restart thefirst predefined time period at a time when the second information queryis transmitted.
 38. The wireless transceiver of claim 33, furthercomprising: an arrangement to determine a position of the wirelesstransceiver.
 39. The wireless transceiver of claim 33, furthercomprising: an arrangement to determine a position of the wirelesstransceiver in a road network.
 40. The wireless transceiver of claim 33,further comprising: an arrangement to generate and transmit the firstinformation query based on a position of the wireless receiver.